Posts by darkskipper5

Jesse Ortiz4 said:You probably mean input (on the monitor); the output is on the graphics card. There are certain monitors that actually feature a DP or HDMI output.
Why would you even need VGA if your card doesn't have it? And if you're hunting for it, you're likely looking at an old monitor that was overpriced back in the day.

What makes those Philips ones so bad in your eyes?

Just grab those ASUS ones you're happy with then.

Thanks for the reply!

I meant input—total slip of the tongue there. I’d only really use VGA if I ended up with some ancient piece of gear I had to hook up, just so I could avoid using an adapter, though honestly, it’s not a huge deal. Maybe I shouldn't have even brought it up.

As for the Philips, in my subjective opinion, the picture quality just isn't quite there compared to the newer ASUS or Dell monitors when they first hit the market (they held their own, for sure). It's not that they're "bad," per se, but when I'm buying something for myself, I want it to last at least five years, so I lean toward better quality. At work, I pick the cheaper options to stick to the budget; at home, I usually go with a "buy one now, buy the second one in a few months" approach if the upfront cost is too steep.

If it weren't for the internet and forums, I'd probably just pull the trigger on an ASUS, but I came here hoping to get some wisdom from the more experienced and smarter folks 😁.

Hey there,

I'm looking to pick up a dual monitor setup this year to replace my current Dell UltraSharp U2412M (1920x1080 60Hz). If the good stuff is out of my budget right now, I'm totally fine with buying one monitor first and grabbing the second one a few months later. So, please feel free to throw out recommendations across all price ranges.

Here’s how I’ll be using them:

Mostly: Work done directly on the PC, heavy browser usage, Microsoft Office, and remote desktop connections for work.
Quite a bit: Gaming—mostly RTS and RPGs, with a little FPS thrown in (think: Kenshi, XCOM 2, Pillars of Eternity 1 and 2, Gunfire Reborn, Company of Heroes 1, and Mount & Blade 2).
Occasionally: Some light video editing in Vegas Pro 13 and messing around in Blender.

At the office, we use two 27-inch Dell UltraSharp 27 monitors (2560 x 1440). We actually ordered those because they were cheaper than our usual go-to brands like Dell or ASUS, but honestly, in my opinion, the ASUS ones always felt much more comfortable to work on.

Personally, I find working with two 27-inch screens way easier than trying to squeeze everything onto a single 34-inch ultrawide.

For my home setup, I want something higher quality than those office Philips monitors, ideally supporting:

- A minimum resolution of 2560x1440
- VESA mount compatibility
- A low blue light mode
- FreeSync
- It would be a nice bonus if they have plenty of ports (DP, HDMI, and maybe VGA), but I'm not making that a dealbreaker.

My current PC specs are:

CPU: i7 4790S 3.20GHz
RAM: 16GB
GPU: 4095MB Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 super (Gigabyte)

If I save up enough, the plan is to build a new PC sometime in 2023. I'm looking at an NVMe drive and a solid "best buy" processor. At that point, I'll probably grab a quieter GPU that can actually handle games at native resolution (I've never messed with that downscaling/supersampling trick everyone raves about; I'll probably ask for advice on that when I'm ready to build the new rig). I might also try switching over to Linux as my primary OS in 2023 if game support holds up and I don't need Vegas Pro anymore, but that shouldn't really change what kind of monitor I need.

Thanks in advance for the help, and hope you all have a great day!

Hey there,

I'm currently hunting down some PC builds for a few friends. If anyone has the time or interest, I could really use some recommendations for two different setups.

a) A budget build under $450, shopping locally here in the US, either cash or financing.

- Since they're upgrading from an ancient dual-core system, anything modern is an improvement. The main tasks would be 2D AutoCAD work, photo editing, and general web browsing.

I’d love to squeeze in a small SSD along with a standard 1TB hard drive if we can make the math work. If not, please let me know what you think a realistic minimum price point looks like.

- I also need a recommendation for a "best buy" monitor around $75 (this isn't included in the $1000 PC budget)

Money is extremely tight here; personally, I'd spring for a better monitor, but these are the constraints I've been given.

b) A build up to $750, shopping locally in the US, financing only.

- This one is for RTS games (my friend's last rig was used for Command & Conquer Generals, so we're talking quite a few years ago 🙂) plus everyday stuff like surfing the web.
- It’ll be played on a 1080p TV for now.

Thanks a ton in advance for the help!

Best regards...

crimsonstag84 said:Basically, if you just want to plug it in and go without worrying about temperatures, grab the 1650 Super.

To be honest, I’m torn on which one I’d pick if I were in your shoes. 😬 If you're stuck with some tiny, cramped case that has zero airflow, I’d definitely go with the 1650 Super. Otherwise, I'd probably have some fun tweaking the settings on an RX 590.

The reason I landed on that Nitro card is because it was the only quiet option I could find anywhere in the States.

You've laid everything out perfectly for me. Now I just have to decide if I want the "plug and play" life or if I actually want to spend my time messing with settings.

Thanks man, you've been a huge help!

Alexander Moore67 said:If you know someone—or have a buddy who’s handy with hardware—who can strip the cooler off the card, apply some fresh thermal paste, and give the whole heatsink a deep clean, your GPU is going to run a lot quieter.

Honestly, my current R9 270 is still whisper-quiet; it’s just ancient at this point.

crimsonstag84 said:I was browsing through some hardware listings online and stumbled upon this Gigabyte card. It’s a decent enough find if you're looking to pick up a solid mid-range option without breaking the bank. Honestly, seeing these kinds of deals pop up makes me wonder why I haven't updated my own rig sooner. It’s one of those pieces of gear that just sits there—reliable, unpretentious, and does exactly what it says on the box. Nothing flashy, but hey, it gets the job done.

The RX 580 8GB is another way to go, though you’re basically trading efficiency for everything else—it pulls double the power and runs a bit louder. On the bright side, you get that 8GB of VRAM and a slightly lower price tag.

I was scouring the web looking for an RX 580 8GB, and honestly, the search results are a bit of a mess. It's one of those things where you think you know what you're getting into, but then you actually start clicking through the listings and realize how much noise there is out there. Just trying to find a decent deal without feeling like I'm being scammed by a bot or someone selling a paperweight.

Thanks a million!

You basically handed me everything I needed on a silver platter for that GTX 1650.

I've been doing a little digging online to see which RX 580 is actually the quietest, and I stumbled upon the Sapphire RX580 nitro +, 8GB. The thing is, it's looking pretty pricey compared to those links you sent over.

Does this actually make sense for what I need, in your opinion?

Thanks!

Hey there,

I'm looking for some advice on a GPU upgrade. My main priorities are noise levels—I want something significantly quieter than what I have now—and, obviously, a noticeable jump in performance. If it isn't faster than my current 😁, I don't really see the point. I'm still debating whether upgrading this specific rig makes any sense at all, so I'll wait to hear what you guys think after wading through this wall of text (my bad).

It’s probably pretty standard by now, but I definitely need at least one HDMI port to hook up my TV (which is still just 1080p) and a second DVI or DP port for my monitor.

This would be the absolute final upgrade for this PC/case before I just pull the trigger on a completely new build. If I go the GPU route, I won't be touching this machine again for maybe three years; otherwise, I'd rather just save that cash for a total overhaul later on.

Budget-wise, I'm looking at roughly $500, but I'm mostly hunting for the best bang for my buck, so I could stretch it if the value is right. Of course, 😉 cheaper is always better.

Current Specs:

CPU: Intel Core i7 4790S @ 3.20GHz
GPU: MSI R9 270 Twin frozr 2 GB
RAM: 16.0GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 799MHz
MB: ASRock H81M-DGS
PSU: Be quiet! 500W Dell UltraSharp monitor

Monitor is a Dell U2311H running at 1920x1080.

Lately, the most demanding thing I've played is Kingdom Come: Deliverance, and even Disco Elysium has been stuttering a bit. Looking ahead, I'll definitely be picking up Mount and Blade II: Bannerlord and Cyberpunk 2077 once they're out—honestly, Cyberpunk is the big reason I'm even considering this upgrade.

I'm planning to buy the card in about two months. Because of some bad luck in the past, I'm strictly looking to buy new (since I'm based in Washington, D.C.). I do have the option to source gear from Germany if the prices there are significantly better.

Aside from gaming, I do some heavier lifting that my phone can't handle:

- I've started dabbling in Blender, and every once in a while, I'll do some video editing using Sony Vegas Pro 13 or Handbrake re-encoding.

If you guys need any more info, just let me know. Any extra tips are much appreciated.

Thanks a ton for the help! Cheers!

Thanks a ton, that's right at the edge of my budget, so I'm heading out to grab it today.

👍

All the best...

Hey there,

A while back, I built a rig using some advice from this group + about a year later, Timothy Kim60 gave me some tips on picking out a newer GPU.

I’ve recently swapped in some used parts, so here is my current setup:

Intel Core i7 4790 @ 3.20GHz
16.0GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 933MHz (10-11-10-30)
ASUS Z97X-Gaming GT (SOCKET 0)
DELL U2311H (1920x1080@59Hz)
2048MB AMD Radeon R9 200 Series (MSI)
1 x 640 GB HDD
2 x 240 GB SSD

My power supply is still that old Corsair CX Series CMPSU-400CXEU, and since the fan bearing finally gave up the ghost, the noise is starting to drive me absolutely insane.

The main thing is that I need it to be quiet. The old one was decent enough, so I don't need anything groundbreakingly silent, just... not this.🙂 .

What PSU would you guys recommend? Keep in mind I'm planning to upgrade my graphics card toward the end of this year or early next with some kind of "quiet" best-buy option (and yes, I'll be coming back to this crew for advice when that happens).

Thanks in advance for the help, and all the best! 👍

Hey there,

Thanks a ton to everyone for the help and all the solid advice. Now comes the fun part—hunting down some actual quotes and getting the financing sorted out!

All the best, you guys were a huge help!

Hey there,

A buddy of mine is looking to pick up a PC for his son, so I figured I’d run his specs by the experts here on the forum.

Here is what I'm working with:

- The main goal is gaming. He mentioned titles like World of Tanks and League of Legends, plus some FPS games. He also plays on an Xbox 360, so I know these aren't exactly heavy-duty AAA titles, but I'm hoping you guys can help me find the perfect component balance to avoid any obvious bottlenecks.

- The GPU needs an HDMI output since it'll be hooked up to a TV (just a standard HD-ready set for now).

- An HDD doesn't need to exceed 500 GB, as they plan on using an external drive for movies.

- Since we're building a new rig anyway, let's just jump straight to 16 GB of RAM.

- We should probably throw in a WLAN PCI Express card too.

- No need to buy Windows; they've still got a Windows 8 license from their old machine. Also, no need to include a monitor, keyboard, or mouse in the budget.

Budget-wise, we're looking at $3500 - $1333. That said, if spending, say, $67 more gets us a significantly better machine, I'm willing to stretch it up to $1400.

I'm currently looking at Micro Center and Best Buy as the two main options.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Timothy Kim60 said:Those Twin Frozr coolers are solid; you really can't go wrong there, and the price-to-performance ratio is pretty decent.

Whatever you do, don't pay $42 for this if you have even a shred of technical ability—like, being able to turn a screwdriver or plug in a cable. This is a total DIY job. You'll get instructions with the purchase, or just look up "how to install/remove a GPU" on YouTube, something like this. Yours is more like the higher-end version where you actually have to plug a power cable from the PSU into the card itself.

Check it out

http://www.custompcreview.com/wp-con...c-review-8.jpg

Thanks a ton. Now that you've cleared that up, I'm heading out tomorrow to pick up the GPU.

One last question: is a 400W power supply enough for my setup? (Intel i5 CPU, 2 x 7200 rpm HDDs, 1 DVD drive, and this new GPU? I think I also have 2 extra fans in the case.) I checked some online PSU calculators and they said 354W is fine, but recommended 405W. If 400W isn't cutting it, I'd rather just go with a weaker card.

Thanks everyone. Seriously, you guys need to add a donate button for tech support so we can send over some cash for a beer or something. 🙂

crimsonstag84 said:Installing a GPU is actually pretty straightforward...

You could also go with this one; it’s got a bit more kick than the MSI R9 270:
http://www.newegg.com/p/product_info.php?c...ducts_id=14025

Thanks a ton. I'll dig through some reviews to see if it's just as quiet—I heard good things about the MSI being silent, so if this one checks out, I'm grabbing it. If not, back to the MSI!

Huge thanks to everyone who chimed in and helped me out. Cheers!

darkskipper5 said:Hey there,

I'm still rocking the build from this thread and I've finally decided it's time to upgrade my GPU.

(...)

Timothy Kim60 said:Basically, yeah. The beefiest passive ones I've seen locally are those HD 7750 DDR5 models. There used to be plenty of those high-end ultimate versions available back in the day.
You can't find this one here (plus, it'd cost me over $1,200)

http://www.legitreviews.com/powercol...rd-review_2213

I haven't actually played it myself, but judging by the reviews, CoD2 is a total beastin terms of system requirements (if not the most demanding game out there), so if I were you, I'd ditch the idea of a passive cooler and just grab something with more raw power.

crimsonstag84 said:The HD 7850 runs pretty cool anyway. You're better off grabbing an AMD card with dual fans so you can dial the RPM down to whatever you want; they can handle pushing 80+ degrees without breaking a sweat.

Hey,

The folks at IBM recommended the MSI R9 270 Twin Frozr to me. It's a bit north of my initial budget (they gave me a price of $480, but I still need to double-check that), but looking at the reviews and everything, it seems like a solid way to go, even if it isn't passive. What do you guys think about this card in terms of price-to-performance ratio?

Also, is it worth paying $42 for someone to install it if you're totally clueless about hardware (like me), or is it easy enough that I won't break anything?

Thanks again for all the help.

Have a good night...

Thanks a ton for all the input, everyone. Since I’m still gaming at a resolution that feels ancient by today's standards, I might actually pull the trigger on a passive card. That said, I need to dig deeper into how much of a performance bump I'll actually see playing at 1280 x 1024 compared to the higher resolutions out there.

@ Scott Diaz7

No worries at all, your answers were actually super helpful. 🙂

@ darkskipper5

Thanks so much, I'm going to spend some more time digging through reviews and checking things out.

@ Timothy Kim60

Thanks to you too, especially since you were replying at such odd hours. I caught a review that mentioned this specific model runs pretty hot, so I definitely need to put in some more legwork to read up on that.

@ crimsonstag84

Thanks for the heads-up (and thanks for being up so late yourself, too). Can I just use some specialized software to dial back the fan noise?

Thanks again, everyone. I'm going to look into everything you guys suggested before making a call. First step is probably measuring my current component temps to see where I actually stand 🙂 ).

Best regards...

Larry Ortiz5 said:Personally, I’d aim for the AMD Radeon HD 7850 2 GB, though it does cost more than $433. If that’s out of reach, just grab the 1 GB version from MSI—it’s only $408 more. Plus, you get a 3-year warranty and a Silver Reward, which is basically a voucher for two games.

http://www.adm.com/product_info.php?c...ducts_id=12031

True, nothing's actually worse about it, and with the HD 7790, you also snag Far Cry 3.

http://www.adm.com/product_info.php?c...ducts_id=13346

Thanks for the reply. The photo shows a fan on it; which model would you recommend if I need passive cooling?

Hey there,

I'm still running the exact setup from this thread and I've finally decided it's time to upgrade my GPU.

Here are the current specs:

Intel Core i5-750, 2.66GHz, 1156MHz, 8Mb cache, LGA1156 socket
Sapphire HD 4670, 512Mb GDDR3 Ultimate, 128bit, dual DVI, PCI Ex
CORSAIR 400W power supply, CX Series CMPSU-400CXEU, 12cm fan
ASRock P55 Extreme motherboard - Intel P55, LGA1156 socket, ATX, 4xDDR3

It's currently hooked up to an old Philips 190 monitor (so max resolution is 1280 x 1024)

plus

It's also connected via HDMI to an amp (which then goes to my TV) in dual monitor mode. If the new card is actually "powerful" enough, maybe I'll try gaming on the TV in 1080p.

The absolute dealbreaker is that it MUST have passive cooling. Even quiet fans are off the table because they eventually start whirring, and I plan on riding this same build for several more years—if it isn't broken, I don't want to touch it.

My hard limit for spending is about $400. Of course, if one of the $200 options is three times faster than what I have now and meets all my criteria, I wouldn't mind stretching the budget a bit 😉. I won't be playing Battlefield 4 or other massive resource hogs; the most demanding stuff will be Company of Heroes 2 (and eventually DayZ and Mount and Blade 2 when they drop).

If possible, I’d prefer to buy from Micro Center (). I bought two full builds there before and was more than happy with them, so I want to keep my business with them. If they don't happen to carry the specific card you guys recommend, please just post the suggestion anyway so I can reach out to them and see if they can source it.

Thanks a ton for your time and help. Have a good night...